Speakers

Larry Cohen, MSW

Founder and Executive DirectorPrevention Institute, CA

Larry Cohen, MSW, is the founder and Executive Director of Prevention Institute, a non-profit national center dedicated to improving community health and equity through effective primary prevention: taking action to build resilience and to prevent illness and injury before they occur. With an emphasis on health equity, Mr. Cohen has led many successful public health efforts at the local, state, and federal level on injury and violence prevention, mental health, traffic safety, and food and physical activity-related chronic disease prevention. He helped to define violence as a preventable public health concern, and developed one of the nation?s first courses on violence prevention. Prior to founding Prevention Institute in 1997, Mr. Cohen formed the first U.S. coalition to change tobacco policy and created the nation?s first multi-city smoking ban. He established the Food and Nutrition Policy Consortium, which catalyzed the nation?s food labeling law. Mr. Cohen also helped shape vehicle safety policy, including strategy to secure passage of bicycle and motorcycle helmet laws, and strengthen child and adult passenger restraint laws. Mr. Cohen has received numerous awards, including the Injury Control and Emergency Health Services Section Public Service Award from the American Public Health Association, the Secretary?s Award for Health Promotion from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and recognition from the American Cancer Society and the Society for Public Health Educators. Mr. Cohen received his MSW from SUNY Stony Brook.